Omicron variant dominant in Bihar, says govt

PATNA: All the 40 Covid-19 samples tested in the second lot of genome sequencing at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna were of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, additional chief secretary (health) Pratyaya Amrit said after the results came on Tuesday.
He said majority of the Covid-19 cases prevalent in the state are of Omicron variant.
"Total 40 samples were tested at IGIMS and all were of Omicron variant.Earlier, 27 samples out of 32 tested at the IGIMS had been found of Omicron variant," he said.
"Omicron is the dominant strain in Bihar in the third wave of the pandemic. But the situation is under control as maximum people have either no or mild symptoms. These people are getting better in home isolation," he said.
As many as 22 of the 40 samples showing Omicron variant were from Patna, five from Muzaffarpur, three from Gaya, two each from Jamui, Munger and Khagaria and one each from Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Saran and Bhagalpur.
These samples were collected between January 1 and 8. Maximum 16 people are in the age group of 20 to 39, eight each in the 40-49 and 50-59 respectively, six senior citizens and two were adolescents, the IGIMS officials said.
Special secretary (health) Sanjay Kumar Singh said the district control room team has contacted 35,000 people for medical support in home isolation.
"Of these people, only 13 Covid-19 patients required medical assistance and had been shifted to DCHC. Medicines have been supplied to 10,573 people through India Post," he said.
Animesh Parashar, additional executive director of state health society, highlighted that over 99.9% (5.94 crore) eligible population (18 and above) in Bihar had received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, while 90.8% (4.48 crore) got both the doses.
"The targeted population is about 5,95,00,000. Of 83.46 lakh adolescents in the 15-18 age group, 35% (28.93 lakh) have been given the first dose. The department is to vaccinate all the board examinees by January 26."
A special task force has been formed at district and block level and we are closely working with the education department to achieve the target. Vaccine camps are being organised in schools to vaccinate the kids," he said.
As far as precautionary dose is concerned, 31% (2.24 lakh) of the targeted 7.71 lakh have been covered. Of them, 43% are health workers, 39% frontline workers and 14% senior citizens.